OPENING SESSION

Welcome and Water Resources
Jerry Yudelson, Owner, Yudelson Associates
Monday, April 1, 2013
12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m.
The geosynthetics industry needs to be prepared for the coming crisis in water supply throughout the southern tier of the U.S. Well established trends point to a coming clash between urban, industrial and agricultural water users within the next 10 years that will require engineers, communities, public officials and industry to come up with creative solutions for stretching our overburdened water supplies. Climate change will only accelerate this conflict. Learn more about these trends and how you can position your company, services and products to prosper from the coming urban water crisis.

Sponsored by:

PANEL DISCUSSION

Energy/Shale Gas Fracking
Carla Suszkowski, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Atlas Energy
Professor Don Siegel, Syracuse University
Robert Koerner, Director Emeritus, Geosynthetic Institute
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Attend this lively discussion on hydraulic fracturing, a highly controversial technique used to release natural gas, petroleum and other substances for extraction. This panel will cover all sides of the discussion including effectiveness and potential environmental impacts.

Sponsored by:

EVENING PLENARY

Emerging Issues in Mining Containment
Mark Smith, P.E., GE, SE, RRD International Corp.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Join this discussion by Mark Smith on current use of Geosynthetics in Mining, the latest advancements and the future of the industry. Mark has been working in heap leaching, tailings management, geotechnical engineering and project/study management since 1979. He is a registered civil, geotechnical and structural engineer who has published dozens of papers in the field and taught engineering at universities in eight countries.

Sponsored by:

SPECIAL SESSIONS

National Transportation Product Evaluation Program (NTPEP)
Sam Allen, TRI Geosynthetic Services
Fred Chuck, TenCate
Katheryn Malusky, AASHTO
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
1:30– 3:00 p.m.
Learn about the National Transportation Product Evaluation Program (NTPEP) “Work Plan for the Evaluation of GeoTextile Materials in Highway Applications.” The purpose of the NTPEP work plan is to establish a list of manufacturing facilities, private label companies, geotextile converters and their associated geotextile products that conform to the quality control and product testing requirements of the work plan and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) specification M-288. The discussion will include a brief description of the plan and a review of audit program to date.

GeoTechnologies Toolbox: Technology Selection Guidance and Engineering Tools
Ryan Berg, P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE, Ryan Berg and Associates
Dr. James Bryant, The National Academies
Professor Vern Schaefer, Iowa State University
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Participate in this interactive workshop for the newest technology selection guidance system developed under the SHRP2 Geotechnical Solutions for Transportation Infrastructure project. This online toolbox collects, organizes and integrates 46 geotechnologies, including 18 geosynthetic technologies in a single site for engineering and development of ground improvement and related construction.